Lactalis Australia, the dairy company behind well-known brands such as Paul’s, Ice Break, Vaalia and Breaka, is closing its Rockhampton manufacturing facility at the end of the month and scaling back yoghurt production at its South Brisbane site due to a low milk supply in the state.
The Rockhampton closure on February 28 will result in the loss of 47 jobs but the company said it will try to redeploy staff where possible to different locations.
“We’re very sorry to be ceasing our factory operation in the tight-knit Rockhampton community. The Rockhampton factory has been part of the Lactalis/Pauls family for 30 years,” the company said.
“This decision was not taken lightly, however the factory has not been processing at full capacity for a number of years and is only in operation three to four days per week with redirected milk supplies from SE Qld.”
Lactalis Australia will continue run its two other factories in Nambour and Brisbane and will redirect milk to those sites.
Yoghurt manufacturing at the South Brisbane factory will be scaled back this year and will production will transition to other Lactalis sites in Victoria and Tasmania.
“Currently, there is insufficient farm milk in Qld to also support yoghurt manufacturing so the factory has relied on transporting milk from other states to meet demand,” Lactalis said in statement.
The redirection of milk from Rockhampton farmers to South Brisbane for fresh milk production is expected to “minimise the effects” of ceasing yoghurt manufacturing at the Brisbane site.
